Collecting and processing complex macromolecular mixtures

ABSTRACT

This document provides methods and materials involved in collecting and processing complex macromolecular mixtures (e.g., stool samples). For example, stool collection devices, buffers for stabilizing nucleic acid and polypeptides present in stool, and kits for using sequence-specific capture probes (e.g., nucleic acid sequences designed to hybridize with particular target nucleic acids) to capture target nucleic acids directly from complex macromolecular mixtures (e.g., stool samples) without the need to perform prior steps to enrich, isolate, or purify the nucleic acid component are provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

The present application claims the benefit of pending Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/094,770, filed Sep. 5, 2008, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

This document relates to methods and materials involved in collectingand processing complex macromolecular mixtures (e.g., stool samples).

2. Background Information

Human stool is composed primarily of materials that are not digested orare not absorbed. Human stools are roughly 75 percent water and 25percent solid matter (Kurasawa et al., J. Am. Coll. Nutr., 19(4):426-433(2000)). The solid matter, which makes up the fecal dry weight, includesroughly 30-50 percent bacteria, 30-40 percent undigestible foodconstituents such as cellulose and extra fibers, and variable amounts oforganic wastes including fats.

The soluble, aqueous phase of stool is a diagnostically relevantconstituent of stool from which can be derived pathologically importantbiomarkers. Several biochemical assays exist for the determination ofcolon disease, including measurement of fecal occult blood for thedetection of colorectal cancer (Walsh and Terdiman, JAMA, 289:1288-1296(2003) and Peranio and Bruger, J. Lab. Clin. Med., 38(3):433-45 (1951)),an assay for the detection of protein loosing enteropathy (Jarnum andPeterson, Lancet, 25(1):417-21 (1961)), and assays designed to capturefecal DNA and determine its use in pathological diagnosis.

SUMMARY

This document relates to methods and materials involved in collectingand processing complex macromolecular mixtures (e.g., stool samples).For example, this document provides stool collection devices, buffersfor stabilizing nucleic acid and polypeptides present in stool, and kitsfor using sequence-specific capture probes (e.g., nucleic acid sequencesdesigned to hybridize with particular target nucleic acids) to capturetarget nucleic acids directly from complex macromolecular mixtures(e.g., stool samples) without the need to perform prior steps to enrich,isolate, or purify the nucleic acid component.

In general, one aspect of this document features a device for a stoolsample. The device comprises, or consists essentially of, a containerfor housing a buffer and collected stool sample, and a lid for closingthe buffer and collected stool sample within the container, wherein thelid comprises a stool handling extension and a sealable port. Thecontainer can comprise a piercable membrane configured to retain thebuffer within the container. The container can be a tube. The lid can beconfigured to engage the container via threads. The stool handlingextension is not limited to a particular shape and/or design. In someembodiments, the stool handling extension comprises a spatula forscooping stool. In some embodiments, the stool handling extension isconfigured to collect, retain and deliver a stool sample (e.g., deliverto a container of the present invention). In some embodiments, the stoolhandling extension has a ladle design (i.e., having a handle terminatingin a bowl shape, with the bowl shape oriented at an angle (e.g., 10degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, 50 degrees, 60 degrees, 70degrees, 80 degrees, etc.) to the handle). In some embodiments, thestool handling extension has a spoon design. In some embodiments, thestool handling extension has a bevel design. In some embodiments, thestool handling extension has teeth (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 50, 100 teeth)so as to ease collection, retention and delivery of a stool sample. Insome embodiments, the stool handling extension can be removably attachedto the lid.

In another aspect, this document features a method for collecting astool sample with a device comprising a container for housing a bufferand collected stool sample, and a lid for closing the buffer andcollected stool sample within the container, wherein the lid comprises astool handling extension and a sealable port, wherein the methodcomprises, or consisting essentially of: (a) handling the lid to collectthe stool sample from stool via the stool handling extension, and (b)attaching the lid onto the container, thereby placing the stool samplewithin the container.

In another aspect, this document features a buffer comprising, orconsisting essentially of, between about 100 to about 300 mM of CDTA(e.g., 50 mM CDTA, 100 mM CDTA, 125 mM CDTA, 150 mM CDTA, 190 mM CDTA,225 mM CDTA, 275 mM CDTA, 300 mM CDTA, 310 mM CDTA, 350 mM CDTA),between about 400 and about 600 mM of tris hydrochloride (e.g., 350 mMof tris hydrochloride, 390 mM of tris hydrochloride, 400 mM of trishydrochloride, 425 mM of tris hydrochloride, 475 mM of trishydrochloride, 510 mM of tris hydrochloride, 550 mM of trishydrochloride, 590 mM of tris hydrochloride, 600 mM of trishydrochloride, 620 mM of tris hydrochloride, 650 mM of trishydrochloride), between about 5 and about 15 mM of NaCl (e.g., 3.5 mM ofNaCl, 5 mM of NaCl, 6 mM of NaCl, 9 mM of NaCl, 12 mM of NaCl, 15 mM ofNaCl, 16 mM of NaCl, 18 mM of NaCl), and between about 0 and about0.075% of a zwitterionic reagent (e.g., 0% of a zwitterionic reagent,0.025% of a zwitterionic reagent, 0.05% of a zwitterionic reagent,0.075% of a zwitterionic reagent, 0.08% of a zwitterionic reagent).

In another aspect, this document features a method for stabilizingnucleic acid and polypeptides within a stool sample, wherein the methodcomprises, or consisting essentially of, contacting the stool samplewith a buffer comprising between about 100 to about 300 mM of CDTA,between about 400 and about 600 mM of tris hydrochloride, between about5 and about 15 mM of NaCl, and between about 0 and about 0.075% of azwitterionic reagent.

In another aspect, this document features a method for obtaining targetnucleic acid from a complex macromolecular mixture without performing aprior nucleic acid extraction or nucleic acid isolation step, whereinthe method comprises, or consists essentially of: (a) contacting thecomplex macromolecular mixture with a sequence-specific capture probecomprising one member of a binding pair to form a probe/target nucleicacid complex if the complex macromolecular mixture comprises the targetnucleic acid, (b) contacting the probe/target nucleic acid complex withmagnetic material comprising another member of the binding pair to forma magnetic probe/target nucleic acid complex if the probe/target nucleicacid complex is formed in (a), and (c) applying magnetic force toisolate the magnetic probe/target nucleic acid complex from the complexmacromolecular mixture if the magnetic probe/target nucleic acid complexis formed in (b). The complex macromolecular mixture can be a stoolsample. The method can be performed without a prior phenol/chloroformextraction. In some embodiments, the one member of the binding pair cancomprise biotin. In some embodiments, the other member of the bindingpair can be streptavidin. The magnetic material can be a bead. Themethod can comprise isolating the target nucleic acid from the isolatedmagnetic probe/target nucleic acid complex of step (d).

In some embodiments, the sequence-specific capture probes includeadditional components to aid in isolation. For example, in someembodiments, a sequence-specific capture probe provided herein caninclude biotin, sequence tags, fluorescent labels, cleavage sites or anyother directly or indirectly detectable moiety or feature. In somecases, a sequence-specific capture probe provided herein can include aspacer sequence. For example, a sequence-specific capture probe providedherein can contain biotin followed by a molecular spacer (e.g., 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 carbon atoms)followed by a nucleic acid sequences designed to hybridize withparticular target nucleic acids. In some cases, a sequence-specificcapture probe provided herein can contain a nucleic acid sequencesdesigned to hybridize with particular target nucleic acids followed by amolecular spacer followed by biotin. The sequence-specific probe is notlimited to a particular length. For example, in some embodiments, theprobe length is between 35-55 nucleic acid bases (e.g., 30 bases, 35bases, 40 bases, 42 bases, 50 bases, 54 bases, 55 bases, 60 bases).

The devices, buffers, and methods are configured to use any and alltypes and/or kinds of stool samples. Indeed, the device is configuredfor collecting, retention and delivery of any type of stool, such as,for example, separate hard lumped stool (e.g., like nuts),sausage-shaped stool, sausage-like stool with cracks on its surface,stool shaped like a snake, soft blobbed stool with clear cut edges,fluffy pieced stool with ragged edges, and watery/liquid stool (e.g.,diarrhea).

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention pertains. Although methods and materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used to practicethe invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. Allpublications, patent applications, patents, and other referencesmentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Incase of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, willcontrol. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples areillustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of one example of a stool collection device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the stool collection device of FIG. 1 duringthe stool collection process.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the stool collection device of FIG. 1 after astool sample is placed inside the device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the stool collection device of FIG. 1 duringthe sample retrieval process.

FIG. 5 is a histogram demonstrating the effect of ProDNA buffer on DNAstability in stool samples over time. 1 μg of human DNA was spikedinto100 mg of stool homogenate and incubated with or without 250 μL ofProDNA buffer at 24° C. for 5 days. Aliquots were taken at 0, 3, and 5days from which DNA was extracted by isopropanol precipitation. CrudeDNA preps were diluted 1:100 in water and quantitatively amplified withapo(a) human gene specific primers. Results were normalized to human DNAstandards.

FIG. 6 contains histograms demonstrating the effects of time andtemperature on the stability of DNA in stool. Stool samples from twonormal individuals were incubated in either water or ProDNA buffer at a1:7 dilution at 24° C. and 49° C. Aliquots were taken at 0 and 3 days,extracted, and subjected to real-time PCR using human alu specificprimers at 3 different amplicon lengths—45, 130, and 245 bp. Resultswere normalized to human DNA standards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This document provides methods and materials that can be used to collectstool sample for analysis. For example, this document provides a stoolcollection device. Stool samples collected using such a stool collectiondevice provided herein can be used for colorectal cancer screening,screening for any aerodigestive cancer or precancer, diagnosinggastrointestinal infectious disease (e.g., bacterial enterocolitides,viral gastroenteritis, H. pylori gastritis, giardiasis, hook worm, orother parasitic infestations), diagnosing non-infectious, non-neoplasticgastrointestinal diseases (e.g., Sprue, fat malabsorption, lactoseintolerance, other carbohydrate malabsorption, protein-losingenteropathy, eosinophic gastroenteritis, pancreatic insufficiency, GIbleeding, or ischemic bowel disease), or forensic applications (e.g.,determining recent dietary intake).

In reference to FIG. 1, device 10 can contain container 12 and lid 14.Container 12 can be any shape provided that it can house a buffer andcollected stool sample. In some cases, container 12 can be a tube (e.g.,a 50 mL tube). Container 12 can include threads 28, which can mate withthreads within lid 14 (not shown). Such mating can seal the contentswithin device 10 without leaking Container 12 can include a liquidbuffer 24 (e.g., a sample stabilization or extraction buffer). Container12 can include a piercable membrane 26. Piercable membrane 26 can bedesigned to retain buffer 24 within the lower region of container 12.

With further reference to FIG. 1, lid 14 can be a screw-top forcontainer 12. In some cases, lid 14 can include a stool handlingextension 16. Stool handling extension 16 can include a shaft 18 and aspatula region 20. Spatula region 20 can be designed to scoop a portionof a stool sample that is to be placed within device 10. In some cases,a stool handling extension can include a stool coring region. In somecases, stool handling extension 16 can be designed such that fullengagement of lid 14 onto container 12 results in stool handlingextension 16 piercing piercable membrane 26. Thus, in use, the act ofplacing lid 14 with spatula region 20 containing a stool sample ontocontainer 12 can result in piercing piercable membrane 26 and allowingthe stool sample to mix with buffer 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3). In some cases,lid 14 can contain port 22. Port 22 can provide access to a buffer/stoolmixture housed within container 12 in a manner that avoids leaking. Insome cases, port 22 can be covered with a removable cap. For example,port 22 can be a sealable entry point for a needle or needle-lesssyringe. In some cases, container 12 can lack piercable membrane 26, andbuffer 24 can be added to container 12 via port 22 after lid 14 sealsdevice 10 closed.

Once a stool sample is placed into device 10 and lid 14 seals container12, device 10 can be shipped to a clinic for analysis. As shown in FIG.4, the device 10 can be centrifuged so that particulate material 36collects on the bottom of container 12. The supernatant 34 can beretrieved from the container via port 22 using, for example, a needle orneedle-less syringe 40. In some cases, the contents of device 10 can befiltered as opposed to be centrifuged.

The stool handling extension is not limited to a particular shape and/ordesign. In some embodiments, the stool handling extension comprises aspatula for scooping stool. In some embodiments, the stool handlingextension is configured to collect, retain and deliver a stool sample(e.g., deliver to a container of the present invention). In someembodiments, the stool handling extension has a ladle design. In someembodiments, the stool handling extension has a spoon design. In someembodiments, the stool handling extension has a bevel design. In someembodiments, the stool handling extension has teeth (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5,10, 50, 100 teeth) so as to ease collection, retention and delivery of astool sample. In some embodiments, the stool handling extension can beremovably attached to the lid.

This document also provides buffers for stabilizing nucleic acid andpolypeptides present in stool. Such buffers can contain between about100 and about 300 mM of a chelating reagent (e.g., EDTA, CDTA) (e.g., 50mM CDTA, 100 mM CDTA, 125 mM CDTA, 150 mM CDTA, 190 mM CDTA, 225 mMCDTA, 275 mM CDTA, 300 mM CDTA, 310 mM CDTA, 350 mM CDTA), between about400 and about 600 mM of tris hydrochloride (e.g., 350 mM of trishydrochloride, 390 mM of tris hydrochloride, 400 mM of trishydrochloride, 425 mM of tris hydrochloride, 475 mM of trishydrochloride, 510 mM of tris hydrochloride, 550 mM of trishydrochloride, 590 mM of tris hydrochloride, 600 mM of trishydrochloride, 620 mM of tris hydrochloride, 650 mM of trishydrochloride), between about 5 and about 15 mM of NaCl (e.g., 3.5 mM ofNaCl, 5 mM of NaCl, 6 mM of NaCl, 9 mM of NaCl, 12 mM of NaCl, 15 mM ofNaCl, 16 mM of NaCl, 18 mM of NaCl), and between about 0 and about0.075% of a zwitterionic reagent (e.g., 0% of a zwitterionic reagent,0.025% of a zwitterionic reagent, 0.05% of a zwitterionic reagent,0.075% of a zwitterionic reagent, 0.08% of a zwitterionic reagent). Forexample, a buffer provided herein can contain 0.5 M Tris hydrochloride,150 mM CDTA, 10 mM NaCl, and 0.05% Zwittergent 6-13.

This document also provides methods and materials that can be used forthe direct capture of specific nucleic acids (e.g., DNA or RNAmolecules) from complex macromolecular mixtures (e.g., stool, blood,urine, bile, saliva, or tissue homogenates).

-   In general, the methods provided herein can include using    sequence-specific capture probes (e.g., nucleic acid sequences    designed to hybridize with particular target nucleic acids) to    anneal with particular target sequences present in a complex    macromolecular mixture. In some cases, sequence-specific capture    probes can include additional components to aid in isolation. For    example, a sequence-specific capture probe provided herein can    include biotin, sequence tags (e.g., sequence tags specific for    types of cancer) (e.g., kras codon 12 mutations, vimentin CpG    hypermethylation, Bat26 MSI, and APC exon 15 insertion/deletions),    fluorescent labels, or cleavage sites. In some cases, a    sequence-specific capture probe provided herein can include a spacer    sequence. For example, a sequence-specific capture probe provided    herein can contain biotin followed by a molecular spacer (e.g., 5,    6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. 17, 18, 19, or 20 carbon    atoms) followed by a nucleic acid sequences designed to hybridize    with particular target nucleic acids. In some cases, a    sequence-specific capture probe provided herein can contain a    nucleic acid sequences designed to hybridize with particular target    nucleic acids followed by a molecular spacer followed by biotin. The    sequence-specific probe is not limited to a particular length. For    example, in some embodiments, the probe length is between 35-55    nucleic acid bases (e.g., 30 bases, 35 bases, 40 bases, 42 bases, 50    bases, 54 bases, 55 bases, 60 bases).

After particular target nucleic acids present in a complexmacromolecular mixture anneal to sequence-specific capture probesprovided herein, the sequence-specific capture probes can be isolatedtogether with the captured target nucleic acids. The present inventionis not limited to a particular manner of isolating captured nucleicacids. Indeed, captured nucleic acids may be analyzed and resolved by anumber of methods including solid phase and solution-based approachesincluding, but not limited to, electrophoresis (on a variety of supportsincluding acrylamide or agarose gels, paper, etc.), chromatography,fluorescence polarization, mass spectrometry and chip hybridization.

For example, in some embodiments, magnetic material designed to interactwith a component of sequence-specific capture probes can be incubatedwith the sequence-specific capture probes. In some embodiments, themagnetic material can be magnetic beads. In some embodiments, themagnetic beads are modified with carboxylic acid. In some embodiments,the magnetic beads can be treated with streptavidin, which interactswith biotin when biotin is present on a sequence-specific capture probe.In such cases, the sequence-specific capture probe/target nucleic acidcomplexes can be captured by the magnetic beads. Once captured by themagnetic beads, a magnetic force can be used to retrieve the beadstogether with the sequence-specific capture probe/target nucleic acidcomplexes from the complex macromolecular mixtures. These retrievedcomplexes can be treated to release the desired target nucleic acids. Insome cases, streptavidin coated wells can be uses instead of beads. Insome cases, probes can be directly conjugated to a solid support (e.g.,without the use of streptavidin/biotin) using, for example, the methodsand materials set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,436.

As used herein, the terms “solid support” or “support” refer to anymaterial that provides a solid or semi-solid structure with whichanother material can be attached. Such materials include smooth supports(e.g., metal, glass, plastic, gold, diamond, silicon, and ceramicsurfaces) as well as textured and porous materials. Such materials alsoinclude, but are not limited to, gels, rubbers, polymers, and othernon-rigid materials. Solid supports need not be flat. Supports includeany type of shape including spherical shapes (e.g., beads). Materialsattached to solid support may be attached to any portion of the solidsupport (e.g., may be attached to an interior portion of a porous solidsupport material). Preferred embodiments of the present invention havebiological molecules such as nucleic acid molecules and proteinsattached to solid supports. A biological material is “attached” to asolid support when it is associated with the solid support through anon-random chemical or physical interaction. In some preferredembodiments, the attachment is through a covalent bond. However,attachments need not be covalent or permanent. In some embodiments,materials are attached to a solid support through a “spacer molecule” or“linker group.” Such spacer molecules are molecules that have a firstportion that attaches to the biological material and a second portionthat attaches to the solid support. Thus, when attached to the solidsupport, the spacer molecule separates the solid support and thebiological materials, but is attached to both.

Briefly, examples of insoluble supports include beads (silica gel,controlled pore glass, magnetic beads, biomagnetic separation beads suchas Dynabeads®, Wang resin; Merrifield resin, which is chloromethylatedcopolystyrene-divinylbenzene (DVB) resin, Sephadex®/Sepharose® beads,cellulose beads, etc.), capillaries, flat supports such as glass fiberfilters, glass surfaces, metal surfaces (steel, gold, silver, aluminum,silicon and copper), plastic materials including multiwell plates ormembranes (e.g., of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide,polyvinylidenedifluoride), wafers, combs, pins or needles (e.g., arraysof pins suitable for combinatorial synthesis or analysis) or beads in anarray of pits or nanoliter wells of flat surfaces such as wafers (e.g.silicon wafers), wafers with pits with or without filter bottoms.

An appropriate bead can included any three dimensional structure thatcan be conjugated to a solid support and provides an increased surfacearea for binding of DNA. Preferably, a bead is of a size in the range ofabout 1 to about 100 μm in diameter. In some cases, a bead can be madeof virtually any insoluble or solid material. For example, a bead can becomposed of silica gel, glass (e.g., controlled-pore glass (CPG)),nylon, Wang resin, Merrifield resin, Sephadex®, Sepharose®, cellulose,magnetic beads, Dynabeads®, a metal surface (e.g. steel, gold, silver,aluminum, silicon and copper), a plastic material (e.g., polyethylene,polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinylidenedifluoride (PVDF))and the like. Beads can be swellable, e.g., polymeric beads such as Wangresin, or non-swellable (e.g., CPG).

As used herein, the term “conjugated” refers to ionic or covalentattachment. Preferred conjugation means include: streptavidin- oravidin-to biotin interaction; hydrophobic interaction; magneticinteraction (e.g., using functionalized Dynabeads); polar interactions,such as “wetting” associations between two polar surfaces or betweenoligo/polyethylene glycol; formation of a covalent bond, such as anamide bond, disulfide bond, thioether bond, or via crosslinking agents;and via an acid-labile linker. In some cases for conjugating nucleicacids to beads, the conjugating means can introduce a variable spacerbetween the beads and the nucleic acids. In some cases, the conjugationcan be photocleavable (e.g., streptavidin- or avidin- to biotininteraction can be cleaved by a laser, for example for massspectrometry). Appropriate cross-linking agents can include a variety ofagents that are capable of reacting with a functional group present on asurface of the bead, insoluble support and or nucleic acid and with afunctional group present in the nucleic acid and/or bead, respectively.

Reagents capable of such reactivity include homo- andhetero-bifunctional reagents, many of which are known in the art. Abifunctional cross-linking agent can be N-succinimidyl(4-iodoacetyl)aminobenzoate (SIAB). However, other crosslinking agents, including,without limitation, dimaleimide, dithio-bis-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB),N-succinimidyl-S-acetyl-thioacetate (SATA),N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP), succinimidyl4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC) and6-hydrazinonicotimide (HYNIC) can be used. In some cases, thecross-linking agent can be selected to provide a selectively cleavablebond when the nucleic acid molecule is immobilized on the insolublesupport. For example, a photolabile cross-linker such as3-amino-(2-nitrophenyl)propionic acid can be used to provide a means forcleaving the nucleic acid from the beads or insoluble (e.g., solid)support, if desired. For further examples of cross-linking reagents,see, e.g., Wong, “Chemistry of Protein Conjugation and Cross-Linking,”CRC Press (1991), and Hermanson, “Bioconjugate Techniques,” AcademicPress (1995).

In some cases, a covalent amide bond can be formed between a bead and ainsoluble support by reacting a carboxyl-functionalized bead with anamino-functionalized solid support (e.g., by reacting acarboxyl-functionalized Wang resin with an amino-functionalized siliconsurface). In some cases, a carboxyl-functionalized support can bereacted with an amino-functionalized bead, which can take advantage ofan acid-cleavable bifunctional trityl protection scheme employed fornucleic acid attachment. The bifunctional trityl linker can also beattached to the 4-nitrophenyl active ester on a resin (e.g. Wang resin)via an amino group as well as from a carboxy group via an amino resin.

In the bifunctional trityl approach, the beads may require treatmentwith a volatile acid (e.g., formic acid, trifluoracetic acid, etc.) toensure that the nucleic acid is cleaved and can be removed. In whichcase, the nucleic acid can be deposited as a beadless patch at thebottom of a well in the solid support or on the flat surface of thesolid support. After addition of matrix solution, the nucleic acid canthen be desorbed into the mass spectrometer, for example.

The hydrophobic trityl linkers can also be exploited as acid-labilelinkers by using a volatile acid or an appropriate matrix solution(e.g., a matrix solution containing, for example, 3-hydroxypicolinicacid (3-HPA) to cleave the aminolink trityl group from the nucleic acidmolecule). In some cases, the acid lability can be changed. For example,trityl, monomethoxy, dimethoxy- or trimethoxytrityl can be changed tothe appropriate p-substituted and even more acid labile tritylaminederivatives of the nucleic acids (i.e., trityl ether and tritylaminebonds to the nucleic acid can be made). Therefore, the nucleic acid canbe removed from the hydrophobic linker, for example, by disrupting thehydrophobic attraction or by cleaving tritylether or tritylamine bondsunder acidic or the usual mass spectrometry conditions (e.g., whereinthe matrix, such as 3-HPA acts as an acid).

As pointed out above, the bead can also be associated with the solidsupport by non-covalent interactions. For example, a magnetic bead(e.g., a bead capable of being magnetized, e.g., a ferromagnetic bead)can be attracted to a magnetic solid support, and can be released fromthe support by removal of the magnetic field. In some cases, the beadcan be provided with an ionic or hydrophobic moiety, which can associatewith, respectively, an ionic or hydrophobic moiety of the solid support.Also, a bead can be provided with a member of a specific binding pair,and become immobilized to a solid support provided with a complementarybinding moiety. For example, a bead coated with avidin or streptavidincan be bound to a surface coated with biotin or derivatives of biotinsuch as imino-biotin. It will be appreciated that the binding memberscan be reversed, e.g., a biotin-coated bead can bind to astreptavidin-coated solid support. Other specific binding pairsincluding hormone-receptor, enzyme-substrate, nucleic acid-complementarynucleic acid, antibody-antigen, and the like can be uses as describedherein.

Examples of binding pairs or linker/interactions are listed in Table 1of U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,436.

A sequence-specific capture probe can be designed to capture anyparticular target nucleic acid including, without limitation, cancermarkers (e.g., kras codon 12 mutations, vimentin CpG hypermethylation,Bat26 MSI, and APC exon 15 insertion/deletions), infectious diseasemarkers (e.g., rotavirus, enteric adenovirus, cryptosporidium, and H.pylori sequence fragments), and inflammatory disease markers (e.g.,elevated human alu levels and pathogenic nucleic acid signatures). Insome cases, a combination of different sequence-specific capture probes(e.g., three different sequence-specific capture probes designed tocapture three different cancer markers) can be used.

A magnetic material can contain any appropriate material or combinationof materials capable of being attracted to a magnetic field. Forexample, sequence-specific capture probe/target nucleic acid complexescan be retrieved using a paramagnetic (e.g., magnesium, molybdenum,lithium, and tantalum), ferromagnetic (e.g., iron, nickel, and cobalt),or superparamagnetic material (e.g., a particle or nanoparticle).

In some cases, the methods provided herein can include (a) usingsequence-specific capture probes directly attached to magnetic materialsto anneal with particular target sequences present in a complexmacromolecular mixture and (b) magnetically capturing at least some ofthe magnetic materials having sequence-specific capture probes thatannealed to the target nucleic acid. The magnetically captured magneticmaterials can be treated so that the target nucleic acid can be releasedand collected. Any type of attachment can be used to attachsequence-specific capture probes and a material capable of beingattracted to a magnetic field. For example, a sequence-specific captureprobe and paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, or superparamagnetic material canbe chelated.

In one embodiment, the methods and material provided herein can be usedto collect a stable, particulate free, stool and buffer homogenate. Forexample, a stool sample can be collected using a stool collection deviceprovided here. The stool collection device can contain a buffer providedherein such that nucleic acid and polypeptides present in the stoolsample are stabilized. The ratio of buffer to stool (v/w) can vary from2:1 to 10:1 (e.g., 3:1, 4:1, 7:1, 10:1). In some embodiments, the ratioof buffer to stool (v/w) is 7:1. The sample can be filtered orcentrifuged to remove particulates. In some cases, the sample can behomogenized, centrifuged, and filtered. At this point, the nucleic acid(e.g., DNA) can be denatured (e.g., heat denatured), andsequence-specific capture probes and material capable of being attractedto a magnetic field can be added. For example, the sample can be heatdenatured in the presence of excess biotinylated sequence-specificcapture probes and hybridized overnight in a concentrated chaotropesolution (e.g., urea about 6-8 mol/L; guanidinium isothiocynate about 6mol/L; or lithium trichloroacetate about 4.5 mol/L). Streptavidin coatedmagnetic beads can be used to effect separation of the hybridizedfragments, which can then be eluted with a low salt buffer.

The invention will be further described in the following examples, whichdo not limit the scope of the invention described in the claims.

Examples Example 1 Buffers for Stabilizing Nucleic Acids andPolypeptides in Stool

Three experiments were undertaken to assess the effect of stabilitybuffer on stool DNA integrity. In the first experiment, four Stoolsamples were collected from clinically normal individuals andhomogenized separately in both water and a buffer consisting of 0.5 Mtris, 150 mM CDTA, and 10 mM NaCl. All samples were diluted to a finalratio of 1:7 (w/v) stool to water/buffer, centrifuged and filtered toremove insoluble materials. 1 μg of purified human DNA (Novagen) wasspiked into 100 g stool equivalents from each homogenate. Aliquots weretaken immediately (time 0) and at 3 and 5 days. (Incubation temperature−24° C.). DNA was precipitated with isopropanol, dissolved in TE buffer,and diluted 1:100 in nuclease-free water. Samples were amplifiedquantitatively with a SYBR green master mix on a Bio-Rad iCycler. HumanDNA standards were used in the assay to assess fragment copy number. Twoprimers sets were specific for 160 and 60 by fragments of the human geneapo(a).

The results were as follows (Tables 1 and 2; FIG. 5).

TABLE 1 Long Amplicon (160 bp) 4 sample copy number averages Time 0 3days 5 days stability buffer 1915 1480 1968 water 1915 67 <1

TABLE 2 Short Amplicon (60 bp) 4 sample copy number averages Time 0 3days 5 days stability buffer 3602 3942 3332 water 3602 839 <1

The results demonstrate that the use of stability buffer allows forstable amplicon copy numbers at 3 and 5 days from initial sample prep.Thus, DNA degradation appears to be inhibited by the immediate additionof the buffer to the sample. The mechanism of action can be thesequestering or chelation of divalent cations by the CDTA reagent in thebuffer. Since the operation of intestinal endonucleases and exonucleasesrequires divalent cations as cofactors, when such cofactors arelimiting, the activity of the nucleases can decrease dramatically.

In the second experiment, the effect of temperature on stool DNA wasassessed. Stools from two normal individuals were collected andprocessed as described above. The samples, in this case, were not spikedwith extra human DNA. Two incubation temperatures were used; 24° C. and49° C., the latter approximating the upper temperature limit of whatsamples might be subjected to in practice. Aliquots were taken at timezero, and at one and three days. DNA was precipitated and diluted asdescribed above. Primers specific for human alu sequences were used inthe qPCR reaction. Three different amplicon sizes were queried—45 bp,130 bp, and 245 bp.

The results were as follows (Table 3).

TABLE 3 W0 W-22C-24 W-22C-72 W-49C-24 W-49C-72 B0 B-22C-24 B-22C-72B-49C-24 B-49C-72 Stool #1 alu 245 0.27 0.2 0.21 0.25 0.2 181 182 2292320 495 alu 130 0.72 0.69 0.8 1.1 0.61 230 292 216 1770 421 alu 45 1.761.35 2.76 1.18 0.49 342 364 261 1880 609 Stool #2 alu 245 0.19 0.27 0.250.24 0.19 1160 1150 1030 2120 570 alu 130 0.83 0.8 0.83 0.69 4.39 1110826 835 1590 480 alu 45 1.16 1.13 0.85 1.25 1.16 1180 784 798 1110 513

In Table 3, W indicates water and B indicates buffer. The first andsecond numbers in the headings refer to temperature and # hours,respectively. FIG. 6 shows the data arranged in a bar graph format. Theresults demonstrate that the stability effect of the buffer isconsistent at both incubation temperatures over a three day span.

The final experiment assessed the effects of the zwitterionic detergentin the stability buffer. It was first necessary to determine whether theinclusion of a zwitterionic detergent adversely affected the DNAstabilizing properties of the buffer. Stools from two normal individualswere collected and split into two 5 g fractions each. One fraction wastreated with stability buffer minus the zwitterionic detergent, one withstability buffer plus 0.05% Zwittergent 3-16 detergent (CalbioChem, Cat.No.: 693023, Lot No.: B62555, MW 391.6), and the last with water.Dilutions were done at 1:7 (stool/buffer or water) ratios. Samples werehomogenized and centrifuged. 500 μL of each supernatant was spiked with1 μg of human DNA (Novagen). Aliquots were taken at time zero and at 3days after a 24° C. incubation. Real time qPCR was performed as above.The primers utilized were human apo(a) “short” (60 bp) and alu “long”(245 bp). Alu PCR was performed on unspiked DNA.

The results were as follows (Table 4).

TABLE 4 apo(a) ALU 245 PCR “short” PCR Crude Crude DNA 1:100 DNA 1:100 0hours 72 hours 0 hours 72 hours Sample 1 buffer 628 715 751 1720 Sample2 buffer 1240 1000 1660 3150 Sample 1 buffer + zwittergent 857 751 29403400 Sample 2 buffer + zwittergent 980 1030 5820 2970 Sample 1 water2.01 618 Sample 2 water 7.51 268

The addition of the zwittergent did not significantly affect(beneficially or adversely) the ability of the buffer to preserve DNAintegrity over time.

Secondly, some initial experiments were performed with atriple-quadrupole mass spectrometer to determine the effects of thezwittergent on protein and peptide stability in stool. Three human stoolsamples were collected and pooled. Five grams of pooled human stoolswere placed into each of four 50 mL Falcon tubes. Each tube received12.5 mL of one of the following buffers: CDTA buffer, CDTA+Z pH8 buffer,CDTA+Z pH9 buffer, and ddH₂O (double deionized water). The CDTA bufferwas produced to contain 150 mM CDTA(trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid monohydrate;Sigma, Cat. No.:125572-95-4; MW 364.35), 0.5 M Tris (Tris-HCL, FisherScientific, Cat. No.: BP152-1, Lot No. 045245, MW 121), and 10 mM NaCl(Curtis Matheson Scientific, Cat. No.: 832-006, Lot No.: M272 KPRB, MW58) with the final pH of the buffer being 9.0. The CDTA+Z pH8 buffer wasproduced to contain the CDTA buffer plus 0.05% Zwittergent 3-16detergent (CalbioChem, Cat. No.: 693023, Lot No.: B62555, MW 391.6) withthe final pH of the buffer being 8.0. The CDTA+Z pH9 buffer was producedto contain the CDTA buffer plus 0.05% Zwittergent 3-16 detergent withthe final pH of the buffer being 9.0. 40 μL of a 100 pmol/μL proteinsolution containing CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen; antigen grade, HumanMetastatic Liver of colon Adenocarcinoma, Biodesign, Cat. No.: A3815,Lot No.: 5127106), Galectin-3 (human, recombinant, expressed in E. coli,Sigma, Cat. No.: G5170, Lot No.: 116K1383), and NNMT (NicotinamideN-methyltransferase; recombinant, human, U.S. Biological, Cat. No.:N-2561-70, Lot No.: L7020957 C7020957, 50 μg) were added to each tube.The tubes were shaken with buffer until the stools were mostlyhomogenized. 2 mL of each sample was transferred to a 2-mLmicrocentrifuge tube and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 14,000 rpm. Thesupernatant was removed and pushed through a 0.2 μm syringe filter(Nalgene, Cat. No.: 190-2520, Lot No.: 595153). The filtrate was frozen,and the remaining stool homogenates were incubated at 24° C. After 72hours, the remaining stool homogenates were shaken, centrifuged, andfiltered as before. The homogenates were desalted over StrataX columnsand eluted in 2 mL of a solution containing 30% acetonitrile and 0.2%formic acid. The eluents were lyophilized, and quantitatively assessedby multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using a triple—quadrupole massspectrometric detection. This allows for a very accurate determinationof intact peptide levels.

The results were as set forth in Table 5.

TABLE 5 1) Water 428585 2) Water spike 814656 3) Water 72 hours 7386834) Water 72 spike 4285859  1) CDTA 356879 2) CDTA spike 784406 3) CDTA72 hours 4) CDTA 72 spike 814282 pH 8.0 1) CDTA zwit no data 2) CDTAzwit spike 343523 3) CDTA zwit 72 hours no data 4) CDTA zwit 72 spike418282 pH 9.0 1) CDTA zwit no data 2) CDTA zwit spike no data 3) CDTAzwit 72 hours no data 4) CDTA zwit 72 spike no data Key: (spike) 25 fmolCEA added (zwit) 0.001% zwittergent 3-16

CEA was spiked into all test fractions to provide a baseline assessmentfor determining whether the zwittergent helps to stabilize theprotein/peptide constituents of stool. The numbers in the above tablerepresent peak areas of the CEA molecule. The data indicate that thezwittergent at the 0.001% concentration does not affect the stability ofstool related peptides in either a positive or negative fashion. Infact, it appears that in terms of the variables of this study, water isas good as the buffer itself. However, the zwittergent by definition canallow for a more complete solubilization of peptides, thus affording ahigher level of proteomic coverage with respect to the analysis of stoolsamples.

Tris/CDTA buffer and water are comparable in peak volume both before andafter spiking Addition of zwittergent 3-16 stabilizes spike experimentat pH 8.0, though there is minimal or absent signal for nascent stool inCDTA zwittergent/samples. Retention times for CEA peptide elution inhigher pH samples were significantly lower than normal (3.5 minutesless, on average). This is likely due to poor column retention, perhapscaused by binding of basic analytes to active silanols. This could be aneffect of the higher pH.

In conclusion, addition of zwittergent 3-16 can be done to helpsolubilize proteins and facilitate subsequent sample preparation.Addition of zwittergent 3-16 at 0.001% does not negatively affectstability of either proteins or nucleic acid markers within a stoolmatrix.

Example 2 Direct Capture of Specific Nucleic Acids from ComplexMacromolecular Mixtures

Five stool samples from clinically normal patients were collected in thepresence of 250 mL stabilization buffer (formulation: 0.5 M tris, 150 mMEDTA, 10 mM NaCl; pH 9.0), and delivered to the processing lab the sameday. The samples were homogenized, diluted with additional buffer to afinal ratio of 1:7 (w/v) stool to buffer, centrifuged at 15,000×g, andfiltered through a 0.45 micron filter to remove particulate. A 10 gstool equivalent aliquot was taken, and DNA was precipitated withisopropanol and sodium acetate. For each sample, 300 μL of stoolsupernatant and 300 μL of stool DNA were processed concurrently forcapture of three distinct APC gene fragments.

Target gene sequences were enriched and purified from stool supernatantand stool DNA using sequence-specific capture. Each capture reaction wascarried out by adding 300 μL of sample to an equal volume of 6 mol/Lguanidine isothiocyanate solution (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) containing apool of biotinylated sequence-specific oligonucleotides (10 pmol total).See, Table 6. The capture probes included a 5′ C12 linker arm betweenthe biotin and the first 5′ base. After an overnight incubation at roomtemperature, 50 μL prepared Dynabeads® M-280 streptavidin (Invitrogen)was added to the solution, and it was incubated for one hour at roomtemperature. The bead/hybrid capture complexes were then washed 2 timeswith 1×B+W buffer (1.0 M NaCl, 5 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 0.5 mM EDTA), andthe sequence-specific captured DNA was eluted into 40 μL 1×TE buffer byheat denaturation.

TABLE 6 Capture Probes. APC MCR Probe 1CAGATAGCCCTGGACAAACCATGCCACCAAGCAGAAG MCR Probe 2TTCCAGCAGTGTCACAGCACCCTAGAACCAAATCCAG MCR Probe 3ATGACAATGGGAATGAAACAGAATCAGAGCAGCCTAAAG

Fragment copy numbers were determined by real time PCR using standardsprepared from human DNA (Novagen). Samples were run in duplicate on aBio-Rad iCycler using fragment specific primers:

APC C 5′ TTCATTATCTTTGTCATCAGC 3′ 250 bp 5′ CGCTCCTGAAGAAAATTCAA 3′ APCN 5′ CAGGAGACCCCACTCATGTT 3′ 346 bp 5′ TGGCAAAATGTAATAAAGTATCAGC 3′ APCL2 5′ GAGCCTCGATGAGCCATTTA 3′ 192 bp 5′ TCAATATCATCATCATCTGAATCATC 3′

A correction factor of 8.67 was applied to the stool supernatant numbersto bring starting stool amounts into equivalence. The results are setforth in Table 7.

TABLE 7 DNA Extraction vs. Supernatant Capture Method. DNA Extraction vsSupernatant Capture Method DNA Supernatant APC (C) ExtractionSupernatant Adjusted Probe (copies/uL) (copies/uL) (copies/uL) RatioSA:E sample 1480 — 8.82 77 sample 1481 33 13.1 115 3.5 sample 1483 3000352 3080 1.0 sample 1484 92.5 8.93 78 0.8 sample 1485 56.5 35.8 313 5.5DNA Supernatant APC (N) Extraction Supernatant Adjusted Probe(copies/uL) (copies/uL) (copies/uL) Ratio SA:E sample 1480 — 12.7 111sample 1481 18.4 2.9 25 1.4 sample 1483 2530 212 1855 0.7 sample 148474.6 8.56 75 1.0 sample 1485 31.5 21.8 191 6.1 DNA Supernatant APC (L2)Extraction Supernatant Adjusted Probe (copies/uL) (copies/uL)(copies/uL) sample 1480 — 17.8 156 sample 1481 51.4 19.9 174 3.4 sample1483 4460 499 4366 1.0 sample 1484 180 18.4 161 0.9 sample 1485 135 84.8742 5.5

The results are presented as the number of fragment copies captured fromstool DNA and from unextracted stool supernatant. Column 1 lists thesample identifiers for the three APC fragment regions. Column 2 is thenumber of copies/μL from stool DNA as determined by qPCR. Column 3 isthe number of copies/μL from unextracted stool supernatant. Column 4normalizes the amount of starting material between both sets of data:Different amounts of samples were used for the direct (stoolsupernatant) vs. indirect (DNA) approach. The adjusted figures allow fora 1:1 comparison between the two methodologies. The final column is theratio of column 4 figures over column 2 figures. The results indicatethat direct capture is at least as good as capture from more highlypurified starting material (DNA). In many cases, it is better. Sincecapture from DNA requires extra and more extensive processing, directcapture appears to be a less expensive, higher yielding procedure.

In another experiment, the capture method was used on three samples, twoof which were also spiked with tp53 specific exon fragments. A probecomplementary to this exon was used in the capture reaction. Methodswere similar to methods described above.

The results are set forth in Table 8.

TABLE 8 DNA Extraction vs. Supernatant Capture Method Ct = 250 1204Spike 1203 Spike 1204 1203 1202 water DNA 2,920,000 2,802,000 18,26010,350 14,310 1.39 Supernatant 1,847,100 1,363,700 11,800 3,440 27,130 %recovery 0.63 0.49 0.65 0.33 1.9

The results in this experiment complement the earlier study in thatdirect capture is shown to be a viable method of selecting and purifyingspecific sequences from highly heterogeneous biological solutions. Thefigures presented are tp53 fragment copies/μL (normalized). The spikedsamples demonstrate the wide dynamic range for this procedure; it is notlimited with respect to high copy numbers. Water is included here as anegative amplification control.

Example 3

The representativeness of DNA markers in stool samples using aconvenient scoop-device of the present invention with whole stoolhomogenates was investigated. Whole stools from 20 patients withcolorectal cancer were collected in bucket containers, sealed, andpromptly sent to the process laboratory. In the laboratory, a 5 g samplewas obtained with the scoop-device, 20 ml of stabilization buffer wasadded, vortexed, and stored at −80 C until assay. To the whole stool,250 ml of buffer was added, the stool homogenized using a stomacher, andhomogenates stored at −80 C in 30 ml ampules. When 20 stools had beenobtained, human DNA concentrations were determined in blinded fashion bya previously described Alu method (see, e.g., Zou et al. CancerEpidemiol Biomarkers Prey 2006, 15(6):1115-9; herein incorporated byreference in its entirety) on aliquots from scooped and whole stoolhomogenates. The results demonstrated a highly significant correlation(R2=0.93) between obtained Alu human DNA for samples collected via wholestool homogenate and via a stool sample collected with a scoop-device ofthe present invention.

Other Embodiments

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described inconjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoingdescription is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Otheraspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A device for a stool sample, wherein said device comprises a container for housing a buffer and collected stool sample, and a lid for closing said buffer and collected stool sample within said container, wherein said lid comprises a stool handling extension and a sealable port.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a piercable membrane configured to retain said buffer within said container.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said container is a tube.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said lid is configured to engage said container via threads.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said stool handling extension comprises a spatula for scooping stool.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said stool handling extension is removably attached to said lid.
 7. A method for collecting a stool sample with a device comprising a container for housing a buffer and collected stool sample, and a lid for closing said buffer and collected stool sample within said container, wherein said lid comprises a stool handling extension and a sealable port, wherein said method comprises: (a) handling said lid to collect said stool sample from stool via said stool handling extension, and (b) attaching said lid onto said container, thereby placing said stool sample within said container.
 8. A buffer comprising between about 100 to about 300 mM of CDTA, between about 400 and about 600 mM of tris hydrochloride, between about 5 and about 15 mM of NaCl, and between about 0 and about 0.075% of a zwitterionic reagent.
 9. A method for stabilizing nucleic acid and polypeptides within a stool sample, wherein said method comprises contacting said stool sample with a buffer comprising between about 100 to about 300 mM of CDTA, between about 400 and about 600 mM of tris hydrochloride, between about 5 and about 15 mM of NaCl, and between about 0 and about 0.075% of a zwitterionic reagent.
 10. A method for obtaining target nucleic acid from a complex macromolecular mixture without performing a prior nucleic acid extraction or nucleic acid isolation step, wherein said method comprises: (a) contacting said complex macromolecular mixture with a sequence-specific capture probe comprising one member of a binding pair to form a probe/target nucleic acid complex if said complex macromolecular mixture comprises said target nucleic acid, (b) isolating said probe/target nucleic acid complex if said probe/target nucleic acid complex is formed in (a).
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said isolating comprises solid phase isolation.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein said isolating comprises solution-based isolation.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein said isolating comprises contacting said probe/target nucleic acid complex with magnetic material comprising another member of said binding pair to form a magnetic probe/target nucleic acid complex if said probe/target nucleic acid complex is formed, and applying magnetic force to isolate said magnetic probe/target nucleic acid complex from said complex macromolecular mixture if said magnetic probe/target nucleic acid complex is formed.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein said complex macromolecular mixture is a stool sample.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein said method is performed without a prior phenol/chloroform extraction.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein said one member of said binding pair is biotin.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein said another member of said binding pair is streptavidin.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein said magnetic material is a bead.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein said method comprises isolating said target nucleic acid from said isolated magnetic probe/target nucleic acid complex. 